Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This research paper provides a comprehensive examination of the Voice of America (VOA) during a pivotal era of the Cold War. Operating under the Department of State’s International Broadcasting Division, the VOA served as a primary instrument in the "Campaign of Truth," a psychological offensive designed to counter Soviet propaganda and promote a better understanding of the United States globally. 

The study is organized into three primary areas: programming, personnel, and audience reaction. Programming content was strategically divided into news, analyses and features, and music, with the breakdown varying depending on the target region. For instance, broadcasts directed toward the Soviet Union and satellite nations focused heavily on straight news and political commentary to pierce the "Iron Curtain" and stimulate skepticism regarding Kremlin narratives. Conversely, programming for the free world, such as Latin America, included more music and "soap opera" style dramas like The Sea Hound to highlight American culture and daily life. 

The paper details the rigorous personnel requirements, including Civil Service examinations and security investigations, noting that the staff was a diverse mix of commercial radio veterans and multi-lingual specialists. The final section evaluates the VOA’s reception, highlighting the challenges of intensive Soviet jamming tactics, which involved at least 1,000 installations designed to drown out American signals. Despite these efforts, evidence from listener mail and defector reports suggested that the VOA maintained a regular audience of millions, providing a vital link to the outside world for those living under censorship. Ultimately, the paper portrays the VOA as a versatile and essential weapon in the mid-century global struggle for ideological influence.

Research Highlights

  • Primary Figures: Foy D. Kohler (Chief of the International Broadcasting Division); John Foster Dulles (quoted contributor); W. Averell Harriman (Mutual Security Agency Director); and President Harry S. Truman. 

  • Key Events: Documentation of the "Campaign of Truth" psychological offensive against Soviet propaganda; detailed reporting on the United Nations Day celebration in Washington D.C. on October 24, 1951; and the inauguration of the Voice of America (VOA) Tatar language program on June 24, 1951. 

  • Date/Location: The study was conducted between October 1951 and February 1952, focusing on VOA operations in New York City and Washington, D.C. 

  • Archival Significance: Provides specific 1951 programming metrics showing a content balance of 32% news, 57% analyses/features, and 11% music; documents the identified existence of at least 1,000 Soviet jamming installations; and records listener set estimates of 30 million worldwide, with 1.5 million located within the USSR. 

Publication Date

2-1952

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